Thu. Dec 5th, 2024

Free open-source frameworks, libraries, and tools are the go-to solutions for automation testing. 

The main difference between these is knowing your preference between building a brand new test automation framework using libraries or working with a made-ready tool where testing is all you will have to care about.

This article gives you a quick glance at the Top 10 free and open-source testing tools, frameworks, and libraries.

Compare top free and open-source testing tools

1. Katalon Studio

Katalon Platform - Opensource testing tool

Katalon Studio is a popular and free test automation tool for web, mobile, API and desktop (Windows). Offering both low-code and scripting methods, Katalon removes the complicated training to build and maintain a separate testing framework. 

With everything built-in, users can focus directly on testing activities and spend less effort on creating, running and maintaining tests.

Feature highlights:

  • Supported programming languages: Java and Groovy
  • OS compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Flexible and fast test creation with Record and Playback, Manual and Script Mode
  • Debugging UI and smart reporting to troubleshoot failed tests
  • Reusable test artifacts (test cases, objects, keywords, etc.) with the Page Object Model (POM) design and Test Artifact Sharing
  • Supported testing methodologies: BDD, DDT, Keyword-Driven Testing, Cross-Browser Testing (Headless, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari), and Cross-Platform Mobile Testing (iOS, Android)
  • Allow importing Selenium, SoapUI, and Postman projects
  • Native integrations to CI/CD systems (Jenkins, Bamboo, Azure DevOps, CircleCI, etc.), ALMs (e.g., Jira)
  • Step-by-step tools training to use Studio in real projects on Katalon Academy


Download Katalon Studio for free 

2. Selenium

Selenium.png

Selenium is probably the first name that pops up on the subject of web-based and open-source test automation. To be more exact, Selenium wouldn’t be considered as a tool but an open-source library.

With the field-famous trifecta of Selenium WebDriver, Selenium IDE, Selenium Grid, and the recent release of Selenium 4.7.0, this is sure to be the top choice for coding enthusiasts.

Read More: Top 10 Best Website Testing Tools For Your Team

Feature highlights

  • Supported programming languages: Java, JavaScript (Node.js), Groovy, Scala, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, or C#
  • Import advanced tests scripted on Eclipse, Visual Studio, or NetBeans
  • Compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux for cross-platform execution
  • Customizable add-ons and plugins
  • Allows integration with frameworks such as Ant, Maven, TestNG, JUnit, NUnit, etc.

Website: Selenium

3. Appium

Appium.png

Sharing a similar suffix as Selenium’s, Appium is likewise the open-source framework to remember for automated mobile testingFrom native, mobile web to hybrid applications, Appium is a highly sought-after option to eliminate the need for recompiling applications and automating APIs.

Read More: Top Appium Alternatives To Choose From

Feature highlights

  • Supported programming languages: Java, PHP, Objective-C, C#, Clojure, JavaScript with Node.js, Python, Perl, or C#, whichever Selenium supports 
  • JSON Wire Protocol to add flexibility to the programming language used
  • Automated testing scripts can run on iOS and Android platforms
  • Test applications without having the source code in place

Website: Appium

4. Apache JMeter

JMeter.png

Apache JMeter, or JMeter in short, is an automation tool for performance (load and stress testing) and functional testing. JMeter’s primary uses are to measure the performance of applications and act as virtual users to send requests to the designated server.

Feature highlights

  • Supported programming language: Java
  • User-friendly UI/GUI and Beanshell processor for custom code
  • Works with HTTP, HTTPS, JDBC, LDAP, FTP, LDAP, SOAP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, TCP, and Java-scripted protocols
  • Open to integrating with Jenkins and third-party reporting tools
  • Multi-threaded framework (Concurrency Thread Group) to sample functions separately from a thread group 

Website: Apache JMeter

5. SOAP UI

SoapUI.png

To test SOAP and REST APIs, we got SOAP UI. Aside from API testing, SoapUI’s open-source application for web service testing additionally covers functional, load, compliance, and mock testing. 

Feature highlights

  • Supported programming languages: Groovy and Javascript
  • Protocol support for SOAP/WSDL, REST, and JMS
  • DataSource TestStep for Data-Driven Testing 
  • Simple requirements management
  • Integration with Maven, HUDSON, JUnit, and Apache Ant

Website: SoapUI

6. Robot Framework

Robot Framework.png

Using Python as the main scripting language, Robot Framework is an open-source framework for acceptance testing and robotic process automation (RPA). The Robot Framework is commonly associated with free mobile and desktop applications testing tools.

Feature highlights

  • Supported programming language: Python, Jython (Java), PyPy, and IronPython (.NET)
  • OS compatibility: Windows, macOS, Unix, and Linux
  • Can use Eclipse, RIDE (Robot Framework IDE), or text editors to build tests
  • Keyword-driven testing, autocomplete completion, and syntax highlighting to reduce coding time
  • Integration with Appium and Selenium

Website: Robot Framework

7. Watir

watir.png

Watir, or Web Application Testing in Ruby, provides you with open-source libraries in Ruby for cross-browser or web test automation. Watir uses Selenium under the hood, so it’s able to utilize Selenium’s common API.

Feature highlights

  • Supported programming language: Ruby
  • Browser compatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari
  • BDD design is available from integrations with Cucumber, RSpec, etc.
  • Watir 7.2 is available on RubyGems but requires Ruby 2.7 and Selenium 4.2

Website: Watir

8. JUnit

JUnit.png

Java plus unit testing gives us JUnit. Ranking 7th in Java Top 10 Libraries, this free open-source testing framework is a favorite among Java developers to edit and refactor code at the unit level. What’s more, the release of JUnit 5 has brought useful updates like better organizing tests in hierarchies, simultaneous use of multiple runners at once, and more.

  • Supported programming language: Java
  • Script automated unit tests with annotations and assert classes
  • Extension APIs or extension mechanisms to work with third-party software
  • Parallel execution (version 5.3 onwards) 
  • AssertThrows method for easier exception and timeout handling

Website: JUnit

9. Robotium

Robotium.png

Often referred to as the “Selenium for Android,” Robotium is a popular open-source framework for Android applications black-box testing, both native and hybrid. 

  • Supported programming language: Java
  • Run-time binding to view all Android UI components and activities
  • Integration with Gradle, Maven, and Ant to write automated mobile tests
  • Adjustable execution speed with Config.sleepDuration and Config.sleepMiniDuration

Website: Robotium

10. Citrus

CITRUS.png

Our last open-source test automation framework is Citrus. Citrus would definitely ring a bell for developers working with integration testing and verifying messaging transport connectivity. As well as that, connecting JUnit or TestNG to use in complementary is common to script Java-based unit tests.

  • Supported message protocols: HTTP, REST, SOAP, Kafka, JMS, etc.
  • XML or Java coding for flexible test creation 
  • Integration with Apache Camel, Arquillian, Kubernetes, and Docker to enable microservice integration testing 
  • BDD and cloud-native BDD automated testing using Cucumber and YAKS
  • Test POST, GET, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS, PATCH, HEAD, and REST APIs with REST’s extension

By Rajashekar

I’m (Rajashekar) a core Android developer with complimenting skills as a web developer from India. I cherish taking up complex problems and turning them into beautiful interfaces. My love for decrypting the logic and structure of coding keeps me pushing towards writing elegant and proficient code, whether it is Android, PHP, Flutter or any other platforms. You would find me involved in cuisines, reading, travelling during my leisure hours.

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